Types of SSL Certificates: Which One Is Right for Your Site? A Complete Guide

With the wide range of SSL certificate providers, deciding which one to go with can be challenging. If you aren’t careful, you might spend more money than you need or even choose a provider that isn’t the best fit for your site and your industry.

To help you find the right SSL certificate provider, here’s a complete guide to all?SSL certificates?and how to choose the right one.

What is?SSL?

SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer. This protects your browser’s information while sending it across the web to the?server. When you use the internet, your web browser uses SSL encryption to communicate securely with the website you browse. The duty of SSL is to ensure that all data passing between you & a site is protected against man-in-the-middle attacks.

SSL provides your visitors with a safer online experience. It is important to choose the right type of certificate for your site and ensure it is properly installed.

Why do you Need an SSL Certificate?

An SSL certificate ensures that sensitive data between a web?server?and a browser remains confidential and authentic. You can use an SSL certificate with any?server?or?hosting service?if it supports HTTPS protocol. Here’s why you need?SSL certificates:

• Beneficial from an SEO point of view:?Having an SSL Certificate will help improve your website’s ranking on Google Search Engine Result Pages (SERP) by adding a green padlock icon next to your URL in search results.
• Add trust factor:?When consumers come across your site, they want to know they are safe while entering their credit card information, personal information, etc., so having an SSL Certificate will provide that peace of mind and give them confidence in using your site.
• Integrity and authenticity:?It provides encryption which ensures that users’ private information cannot be accessed during transmission over the internet.
• Prevents from hackers:?If you have an SSL Certificate installed on your website, then hackers would not be able to steal user data such as usernames, passwords, emails, etc., since this kind of information would become encrypted.

Types of SSL Certificates

The types of?SSL certificates?are categorized into two types: validation levels and multiple domains/subdomains. You can select an SSL certificate depending on whether your website or service has just one domain, many domains, or both (multi-domain).

Category 1: SSL Validation Levels

Three validation levels are available for this?SSL Type:

Domain Validation SSL Certificates

These are also known as DV SSL certificates. To get a DV certificate, you need to prove that you have ownership over a specific domain name by adding?public DNS records?that link the domain name with its IP address.

The verification is done via email and does not require further investigation from the CA. This is also the fastest and most cost-effective way to obtain an SSL certificate.

This certificate is great for internal testing domains and blog posts, as they provide full encryption and basic trust indicators. A DV certificate is not recommended for eCommerce sites that store financial or personal information.

Organization Validation SSL Certificates

These are also known as OV SSL certificates. OV certifications require more verification than DV certs because they provide higher security and trust assurance features like company name, address, phone number, and email contact details – not only for you but also for all employees in the company’s administrative roles who handle data protection duties.

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OV certificates are more expensive and time-consuming than DV certificates because a thorough verification process needs to be done. Websites with OV SSL certificates will show the business’s location information under the Subject section. This?SSL type?makes the entity look more legit to visitors.

It is best for small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) that deal with customer personal information.

Extended Validation (EV) SSL certificates

It offers an additional layer of identity assurance by showing physical address and phone number information alongside common organization details. In addition, they include a check on a green address bar that can be publicly viewed and verified by visitors.

This special attention gives users greater confidence when conducting eCommerce transactions over your website because they can feel sure it is always protected.

According to usability research, EV SSL certificates increase people’s confidence in their financial and personal data. This makes them more likely to convert, make purchases, or provide information on your site.

This validation process is quite simple if you’re a legitimate business that is well-organized. Our server support team can assist you with any questions or difficulties. We can also help you get your EV certificate quickly issued!

Category 2: Multiple Domains / Subdomains

Single Domain SSL Certificate

As the name implies, it secures a single site and all pages within that domain. It won’t protect any subdomains.

For instance, if you have an SSL certificate for the domain abc.com, it’ll also cover all the domain pages, such as abc.com/blogs/. It won’t cover subdomains like blog.abc.com.

Wildcard SSL Certificate

Wildcard SSL certificates can be used to protect and secure all subdomains that are first-level on your website. You can protect as many subdomains as possible with a single wildcard certificate.

You can have multiple subdomains, such as blog.abc.com, buy.abc.com, or careers.abc.com. All subdomains, as well as all other domains at the same level, would be covered.

Multi-Domain SSL Certificate

Multi-Domain certificates allow you to secure unlimited subdomains and other domains at different levels on your site. This is perfect for companies that want to secure all pages on their website, including those accessed through subdomains.

You can easily secure up to 250 domains and unlimited subdomains without managing multiple certificates. This will save you time, money, effort, & hard-earned money.

Read more, Types of SSL Certificates: Which One Is Right for Your Site? A complete guide